island Ikaria Walking holidays

€480 – €630

Walking holidays and acquaintance with the island of Ikaria. Spend some quiet days on a unique island with our multinational group of Greek language learners, and participate in hiking, lectures, traditional dance lessons and cooking nights that let you getting to know the island and her people.

Deposit & cancellation: A deposit (20%) for the programs of 2020 will be asked after the epidemic will pass and the situation regarding bans in travelling will become clear. Until then, there is no need for deposit and you can cancel any time. A deposit for the reservation in a program of 2021 (20%) is required in December 2020. Prior to this date you are not required to send a deposit and you can freely cancel your reservation. After 1/1/2021 deposits are not refutable, however you may use the deposit in order to register in an other trip or Greek language lesson, during the same or the next year.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in double occupancy at Ikarian Centre’s facilities, which are located in a rural region 1.5 km outside the village of Arethousa. The facilities were originally constructed to provide accommodation for Greek language students and host the Greek language courses, organized by Ikarian Centre.

A typical day

10:00 – 17:00 Hiking and excursions in Ikaria. Lunch is not served, and sometimes we are kilometers away from the closest taverna. Carry snacks with you!18:00 – 20:00 Traditional dance lessons, lectures and slide shows, cooking evenings with locals20:00 Dinner in the tavernas of Arethousa, or at home.

Breakfast, meals & cost:

The cost covers only accommodation. Participation in activities is free. Meal costs are not included in the price of the holiday and of course there’s no requirement to attend. You can bring a snack for the road, if you don’t want to have lunch in a taverna. In addition, breakfast and other meals are not served at the centre. However you can use the kitchenette in their rooms or the common kitchen to prepare breakfast and simple meals. In the evening you can go to a local taverna, 15 min away on foot, but you can choose to stay home and prepare something for yourself. The cost for a meal and wine in the local taverna is around 12 – 15 Euros.

What should I bring with me?

Closed-toe shoes and shorts; or longer pants, as you might find it annoying to get scratched by bushes. A hiking pole is not necessary, but may be helpful. Of course a hat, water, and snacks are also among the necessary equipment.

How difficult are the hikes?

We will walk in a mountainous terrain, with both uphill and downhill climbs. Some parts are quite steep. The trails pass through areas with low bushes and in many places are no wider than half a meter. The paths are NOT paved. There are stones, tree roots, and shrubs along the entire length of the route. You must be in a relatively good physical condition, have a good sense of balance, and NOT have any SERIOUS problems with vertigo or a fear of heights.

How to get to Ikaria

You can buy tickets for the ferry online (www.hsw.gr). Note that the ship also passes through Mykonos. If you are traveling from abroad you may find cheap flights to Mykonos, directly from your city. There are also flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. For more information, follow the link below.